NATIONAL NEWS - Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle on Thursday said he was disappointed by poor audit outcomes shown by provincial municipalities in the 2016/17 financial year, adding that it was due to lack of consequence management.
Masualle said his government was in a process of uncovering what brought about more than R13 billion in irregular expenditure.
“Once that process is complete we will make sure there are consequences for municipalities that are unable to explain what has been pointed out by the auditor-general.”
On Wednesday, Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu released the 2016/17 financial year audit report in which he found that Eastern Cape municipalities led the pack with R13.55 billion in irregular expenditure.
Masualle said six municipalities in this province improved while seven worsened.
Masualle was addressing the media at Ngcobo where he was giving feedback to the residents following a two-day protest last week.
Ngcobo residents were protesting against poor service delivery and corruption in the municipality. They demanded the resignation of mayor Lizeka Bongo-Tyali and the entire mayoral committee and for the eNgcobo Local Municipality to be placed under administration.
Last week, Masualle told hundreds of the protesters there would be an intervention by the provincial government but said he wanted seven days to consider their grievances.
Speaking to the residents on Thursday, Masualle said the provincial government would apply section 154, which allows them to intervene when there is instability or lack of capacity in the municipality.
“Starting this Monday, we [are] going to have government officials from the office of the premier, provincial Cogta and provincial treasury.”
Masualle said a decision to place the municipality under administration according to section 139 would be taken following assessment by the delegated officials. The decision was welcomed by protest leaders from civic organisations who were leading the protests.
